When people think about Demand Lucha!… whether they’re talking about “in the 6” or “LuchaTO” or a specific match… most of the time they’ll be thinking about Carter Mason too. As the Usos say… Mason has been “down since day one-ish”. These two brands have grown and changed together. Brands that have trained hard, built strength and stability. The cornerstone of success. But a man… a man is more than a logo. After all, how many can know of a man’s childhood woes, of coercion? Of betrayals. Of exclusion. These stories aren’t part of Carter Mason’s company portfolio or year-end budget. These are the struggles of flesh and bone.
Beginning in the world of professional wrestling, he encountered similar tropes but was determined to define himself. In 2015, Mason began his personal journey in earnest and what would become the Demand Lucha brand, rising from the ashes of Squared Circle Live, became his home. This fledgeling company was also determined to define itself and they took the journey together. From the start, Mason secured victory after victory. Opponents like the unrelenting El Presidente Pinkie Sanchez, helped him build a reputation for being a hard man to keep down. Undefeated, Mason strode through the Copa De Extrema tournament and continued on to win a four-way scramble to crown the NEW Premier Champion. Mason was happy, and more than worthy, to continue the title’s proud lineage.
A launching pad for success, Mason began to rise elsewhere, dominating the province and winning multiple championships. But as the man soared, the company struggled internally. Many issues from this time resulted in there being very little footage of the almost year-long struggle where Carter Mason went one on one multiple times with the very last man to ever hold the Premier Championship for Squared Circle Live… Will White.
Will White, also known as Bill Black, had many issues, a multiple personality disorder being only one. Just as SCL was falling on hard times, White was deemed mentally unstable to perform and was stripped of the title. SCL took just over a year to recover and reemerged starting with LuchaTO: Chapter 1. During that year White worked relentlessly, made huge strides with doctors and was eventually cleared for competition. He returned to action and was immediately added to the 4 way match to crown the New Premier Champion. After a losing effort, Whites’ alternate persona Bill Black emerged and attacked the newly crowned champion. The two battled for the better part of a year ending in a painfully brutal 2 out of 3 falls hardcore match and solidifying Mason as the true King of Lucha Libre. As his Reign extended to almost a full year, it was a moniker he took on permanently, dubbing himself the King of the North. He was the only man at that time to hold three of Ontario’s top championships.
2016 was Mason’s year. Stronger, Faster, more Confident, more Arrogant. A triumphant and dominant champion, Mason became the longest reigning Premier champion in history. Reaching the highest of heights, he had a long way to fall. He was placed in a match that any champion would be appalled by, The Deadly 7 Scramble at Lucha De Los Muertos. This marked the end of Mason’s run as champion when Vaughn Vertigo was pinned by the Funky Pharaoh, AMASIS.
Mason went wild. A rampage of texts, emails, DMs and calls to the matchmakers and higher ups at Demand! He wanted a rematch. He wanted a shot. He wouldn’t rest… and a shot he was given. In a vicious contendership match against Sami Callihan, Mason was unfortunately unsuccessful. Then the losses mounted. Tag Team losses. Trios Losses. Sonny Kiss, Mecha Wolf. Mason lost in what was the most epic and hard fought battle I have ever seen in professional wrestling, to Tyson Dux for the Smash Wrestling championship at Vampiro’s Underground Invasion. A monumentally awesome match, but a loss none the less.
As social media tension between Mason and the now unmasked Amasis, Desean Pratt, began to mount, many fans thought they were finally going to get the dream match. Pratt vs Mason. The match everyone had wanted. But the final straw was a losing effort against Ophidian at Luchafest 2. The Master of Snake Style went on to face, defeat, and retire the very man who for almost a year, Mason felt he should be facing. The man who stole his title.
In one year, Carter Mason had climbed to the very top of Demand, and in the same amount of time, he had fallen just as far, a man with no revenge left to be wrought, against a foe felled by another.
But Mason is not easily shook. He has shown no change in his steely demeanour. If anything, what you see is a man more resolute. a man willing to do anything it takes to reclaim what’s his. A very dangerous man. Yet Carter Mason is no Will White. There is no frustrated insanity or childish doppelgangers waiting to emerge. Mason is simply a man waiting for his next opportunity. That opportunity comes March 25th at Lee’s Palace. Because despite these losses, Carter Mason is quite simply one of the best there is. He never fails to emote and entertain a crowd and he once again gets that chance and the chance at being #1 contender. Perhaps in the biggest vindication of his career, over an opponent who will test his every measure.
Carter Mason vs Josh Alexander will be a legendary encounter. If Mason wins, he will get the shot he so rightfully deserves, at the title he never really lost. A feeling his opponent knows all too well. Get tickets for Sunday March 25th at Lee’s Palace for LuchaPalooza. NOW!
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